Nobel laureate Philippe Aghion warned that Europe's AI competitiveness hinges on a joint research programme linking the UK, France and Germany. He argued the three economies must pool resources to rival the US DARPA model, stressing that fragmented efforts will leave Europe lagging behind in critical AI breakthroughs.

Aghion, who won the prize for work on growth theory, said the alliance should focus on high‑risk, high‑reward projects, mirroring DARPA's approach to funding. He noted that coordinated funding could attract top talent and accelerate commercialization, giving European firms a clearer path to market.

The call arrives as EU policymakers debate a €10 billion AI fund, and private investors look for stable, cross‑border pipelines. Aghion’s endorsement adds academic weight to the push for a formal trilateral pact, suggesting that without it, Europe risks ceding leadership to the United States and China.